Short and Sweet Today.
One line from a published or unpublished work. Today I am sharing from Pride & Perception. This is a change of fortune story and our dear Elizabeth leads Mr. Darcy on a merry path toward their Happy Ever After.
Pride & Perception is available exclusively on Amazon - Kindle Unlimited and you can purchase it HERE
"You say he’s been making enquiries about Miss Darcy?”
Maxwell Kerr, the fourth Duke of Adborough, was seated in a very comfortable chair at White’s, a snifter of brandy in his hand. Across from him, sprawled out in his usual, careless way was his newly married brother, Lord George Kerr.
“Mmm…yes. The old boy had been sniffing around the skirts of Lady Susan Cruikshank, but she up and got engaged to Lord Waverly, the Marquis of Dorchester.”
“Anyone with a brain in their head knew that would happen. Slade’s losing his touch.”
Elizabeth Darcy entered the cozy study, arguably the smallest room at Pemberley yet it could easily contain at least three rooms from Longbourn. She approached her husband, busy with his ledgers and waited by the side of the desk until he glanced up.
The smile that graced his face warmed her heart and that errant organ increased its rate at the appreciative look he bestowed upon her. She was reminded of their morning activities by the daring way he perused her body.
“Have you come to steal me away from my dusty tomes and boring ledgers?” He pushed his chair away from the desk and beckoned her sit on his lap, which she did with pleasure.
Once settled and a few kisses later, she lightly pushed against his chest and made him look at her properly.
“You almost make me forget what I came to discuss.”
“You really did come here for something other than a kiss and a cuddle?” He attempted to steal one more kiss, but she slid from his lap and moved to place the desk firmly between them. She was more than aware Fitz would happily close and lock the door to continue this tryst, much like he did last week if she didn’t give them some space. After more than six months of marriage the master of Pemberley’s appetite for his bride hadn’t abated.
“Stay at your desk, sir,” she commanded in a faux haughty voice and then laughed at his glower. “Oh, Fitz, I’d love nothing better than to spend the whole day with you here, but I truly do have something important to discuss, and you can’t distract me with all of this.” She gave a small wave in the direction of his rather large body.
“Very well, Lizzie. Have your say, then I’ll have my way,” he said with a wolfish waggle of his eyebrows.
“Oh dear, when you begin to rhyme your words, I know I’m in trouble.” She settled in the comfortable chair facing the desk, smoothed her skirts and dragged in a deep breath. “I think Georgiana needs to wait one more year before she has her curtsy before the Queen.”
“But—”
Elizabeth held up her hand to stop his protest.
“Hear me out before you disagree and harrumph.”
“I don’t harrumph. All right,” he conceded at her one eyebrow arched in disbelief. “I harrumph sometimes, but why do you want her to miss another Season?”
“Several reasons. For one, she’s not ready. Since our wedding her confidence has grown, with much credit being given to Caroline Bingley. Her guidance has surprisingly brought out Georgiana’s desire to attempt new things, but she’s still been very sheltered here at Pemberley. Her encounters have all been with those whom she knows and trusts.”
“What do you then propose?”
“Mrs. Annesley returns in the next month, which is good as Georgiana misses the companionship Caroline brought, and I thought this might be a good time to invite Kitty and Mary to stay with us. Kitty is the same age as Georgiana, Mary only two years older. I think Mrs. Annesley would be a wonderful influence on all of them. I propose all three girls make their debut together, next year.”
“What you say is true, but my sister was to be presented at court this year. Aunt Matlock is quite excited to sponsor not only Georgiana, but also you, Mrs. Darcy.”
“This brings me to my second reason to postpone Georgiana’s season.” She clasped her hands together, aware that they’d gone damp from nerves and excitement. “As you know I’ve had a special gown commissioned for this occasion and with such a beautiful design, I’d hate to ruin the cut by letting it out.”
His brow furrowed. “Why on earth would you have to let it out?”
“Because, dear husband, the baby refused to stop growing just so I can be presented at court.” She smiled as understanding dawned in his warm hazel eyes, more than pleased she’d managed to surprise him.
“Baby?” Those hazel eyes she loved so much, shone bright with tears and she nodded yes. He rose from the desk and drew her to her feet, kissing her with a passion that ignited a flame in both of them. A few hours later he unlocked the door and carried his sleepy bride to her room.
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OPENING LINES
Keeping secrets from family and friends was a recipe for disaster...
The whine of a miter saw became louder.
What was he doing now?
Lindsay minimized the application on her computer and swiveled to look out the second storey window. Her home office overlooked the new neighbor’s driveway. A neighbor who’d become extremely distracting.
She couldn’t make out his features, with a baseball cap covering his face from her elevated view, but she sure could see his body. At that moment Tina’s ringtone sang out.
“Hello?”
“What’s shakin’ bacon? Still watching Hot Stuff next door?”
Lindsay dropped the curtain as if burned.
“No.” She faced her computer, which had gone into screen saver mode. “I’m at my computer.” She jiggled her mouse and a CAD program popped up, displaying a current renovation.
“You are such a liar. I’ll bet you haven’t touched your mouse until right now.”
Lindsay let go of the mouse. How did Tina always know what she was doing? It was like she had a spy camera in her office.
“I shouldn’t have told you what he was doing.”
“Well, you did and now I want to know more.”
“You’re a married woman. You shouldn’t think this way.”
Tina laughed out loud. “I may be married, but I’m not dead. Besides, I can look at the dessert tray as long as I don’t place an order.” Lindsay imagined Tina’s eyebrows waggling while she spoke. “Come on, woman. Feed my avarice.”
“Avarice?”
“I’m doing crosswords at the doctor’s office while I wait for my appointment. Stop stalling. Give me details. Have you figured out what he’s up to?”
Lindsay stood, and partially concealed by her curtains she watched, as she had for most of the morning. What she saw pushed her pulse into overdrive.
All sweaty in a pair of low-rise Levi’s and scruffy work boots, Hot Stuff grabbed a water bottle and sucked back huge gulps. As his thirst was quenched, her mouth became paradoxically drier. His wide shoulders and hard chest looked as though they’d been sculpted by Michelangelo himself. Twin ropes of muscles carved around six pack abs and caused her heart to trip along a little faster.
“Well?” Tina whispered into the phone.
“He’s finished clearing the backyard.” Lindsay whispered back. “Now he’s cutting lumber, but they’re too short for even a deck.”
“More. Give me more.”
“I don’t know if you’re ready for this. He’s shirtless.”
“You’re killing me,” Tina groaned. “Is he built?”
“Like a Greek god.”
“Noooo…. So unfair. I don’t have any hot neighbors, just acres and acres of corn fields.”
Ma'alcom spat out a curse, turned from the fire and faced the messenger, who recoiled. For the first time he believed the whispered stories about the strange one, who dabbled in the dark arts, twisting his Druid teachings into an evil force.
He took a step toward the him, and the messenger instinctively backed up. As Ma'alcom's eyes darkened, the boy noticed tattoos appear, almost as though a mask were slipping off his face. Behind his eyes, something dark slithered and disappeared. A voice so deep it couldn't be natural rumbled from the druid standing before him.
"Enough. When will the marriage take place?"
The power within Ma'alcom caused the boy to fall to his knees and he choked out the words.
"Laird Craven is at Inverness now. T'would seem her da is most anxious to have her wed, and wed quickly. No one knows why--"
Ma'alcom raised his hand and the messenger stopped talking. The fire hissed and crackled. After what seemed like an eternity, Ma'alcom spoke, his voice normal once again. Relief flooded through the boy and he took a deep, shaky breath. After tonight, he ne'er set foot in this house again.
"Did anyone see ye leave the keep?"
"Nay. I was most careful, as ye instructed. No one saw me leave."
"Good."
Ma'alcom moved behind the messenger, murmuring beneath his breath. A chilling numbness crept through the boy's body, binding his limbs in place, squeezing the air from his lungs. The last thing he felt was the blade of a knife slice between his ribs and through his heart.
